Zeigler Auto Earns Prestigious 2025 Elite Award for Employee Education and Development at Chicago Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® Ceremony

Zeigler Auto Group recently earned a 2025 Elite Award for the Chicago region in the coveted Employee Education and Development category. Only 5% of all 2025 Chicago Best and Brightest Companies to Work For winners are eligible for Elite Awards from the National Association of Business Resources.

CHICAGO, Oct. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Zeigler Auto Group earned an Elite Award for Employee Education and Development during Chicago's Best and Brightest Companies to Work for award ceremony last month. This is the first time the Kalamazoo-based dealer group has received the prestigious recognition for the Chicagoland region, and second overall. Previously, it earned an Elite Award as the Best Medium Business for the Milwaukee region in 2023.

This year's award was for Employee Education and Development, a coveted category that represents an investment in its employees for ongoing growth. In order to be considered for this, and all other Elite categories, organizations must have already been recognized as a 2025 Chicago's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® recipient, and be in the top 5% of winners.

"I firmly believe that investing in our team's growth is one of the most important things we can do as a company. Our career development and education programs reflect our D.R.I.V.E. values—Develop, Reputation, Integrity, Vision, and Execution—and set us apart as a leader in the industry," said Aaron Zeigler, president of Zeigler Auto Group.

This specific recognition—2025 Elite Employee Education and Development—was awarded to Zeigler Auto Group for its world-class Zeigler University program which equips its employees with a robust and comprehensive set of resources to ensure they thrive in their roles.

The leadership and development program is focused on continuous individual and group growth, making the organization a powerhouse in the automotive industry. The Zeigler University program offers live and recorded sessions housed in a portal accessible to all employees with over 4,000 videos geared towards mastering their craft but also personal endeavors such as investing and personal finance. Besides this, Zeigler regularly invites innovators in various industries to share their personal and professional experiences through its Zeigler University Guest Speaker Series.

"Winning the Elite Award for Employee Education and Development from the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For was a milestone moment for all of us at Zeigler Auto Group. This recognition reflects years of dedication to building a strong culture and investing in our people through Zeigler University. Our training program has truly enriched the lives of so many team members who have embraced the opportunity to grow and develop," said Mike Van Ryn, VP of talent development.

"To be honored in this specific area validates everything we've worked so hard to create across the organization. You can see the impact of our development efforts every day—and you can feel the difference in our stores. I'm incredibly proud of our team," he continued.

The award-winning dealership group has a long history of earning annual awards from the National Association of Business Resources' Best & Brightest Companies to Work For® program highlighting its commitment to best employee practices across the board.

"Zeigler Auto Group exudes excellence whenever you interact with any of their team members. To achieve Elite status is a huge accomplishment and not only did they score high in all scoring categories, but they were in the 10% of the field of companies. This shows it's not about an award, but of a positive culture and making them a best and brightest workplace," said Jennifer Kludge, CEO of National Association for Business Resources.

ABOUT ZEIGLER AUTO GROUP
Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 88 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers.

Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company.

The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,500 people, ranking among the top 1% of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2024.

The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Wisconsin, Chicago, and Michigan. Besides these prestigious accolades, Zeigler is also one of Glassdoor's 100 Best Places to Work in the U.S. for 2024, and among Glassdoor's top 10 U.S. companies for work-life balance.

MEDIA CONTACT
Francis Mariela
239.273.6976
[email protected]

SOURCE Zeigler Automotive Group